Taking Samples for Cervical Screening
a Resource Pack for Trainers

NHSCSP Publication No. 23 - ISBN 1 84 4630 30 7
Published April 2006

This resource pack represents best practice for the training of sample takers. It replaces the Resource Pack for Training Smear Takers, (1998) and has been updated to take account of developments in the NHSCSP including the introduction of liquid based cytology (LBC), and changes in the wider NHS.

The pack is designed to be used for training doctors and nurses working in primary care, family planning clinics and other settings where cervical samples are taken as part of the NHSCSP. It is intended to be used by experienced trainers to enable them to offer a common core of learning to all sample takers, ensuring consistency across the cervical screening programme.

The resource pack should not be used by practice staff for unsupervised training.

Copies of NHSCSP publications are normally free of charge for staff working within the NHS, the voluntary sector and for healthcare students. To order copies or obtain details of prices and availability of publications to those outside the NHS, please contact the Department of Health publication orderline: Telephone: 0300 123 1002, Textphone: 0300 123 1003, Fax: 01623 724 524, Email orders: [email protected] or order directly from the Department of Health Publications Orderline website.

NHS Cervical Screening Publications